Below: Seal of New Hampshire
Economy and Occupations
By: Annie D.
In 1623, New Hampshire's first settlement began. The economy of early New Hampshire was formed based on the natural elements in and surrounding the area. Fishing, fur trade, agriculture, ship building, and coastal trade were the main occupations for the settlers throughout the 17th century. There were many fishermen, because the shore provided a steady source of fish. Agriculture was the primary supporter of New Hampshire, but soon failed due to the short growing seasons and long winters. Ship Building evolved into a major industry. The white pines were perfect for building masts. Boards and staves were also made. In 1671, as much as 20,000 tons of boards and staves were made per year. Coastal trade was another major occupation. New Hampshire traded with other colonies such as Massachusetts and Virginia, the Canary Islands, Europe, the Caribbean, Madeira, and Spain.In the 18th century, Portsmouth, a major settlement, became a huge commercial port. Ship building, fur trade, and fishing were still profitable occupations. Local crafts also became a part of the economy in the 1700s. Cabinet making, iron crafting, brick building, and pewter sculpting started to become more popular. Potato cultivation was introduced by Scot-Irish, as was linen making in the early 1700s. The Scot-Irish were people of Scottish descent, who moved to north Ireland and then traveled to North America in order to escape bankruptcy and religious abuse in the British Isles.
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http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/13newhampshire.htm
http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE52&NewItemID=True
